The design is of a joyful child, nurtured by the land and the family. The heart represents the love surrounding the child, and the nurturing, the child emerging as if a beautiful flower. The wavy line could be thought of as the life course of the child, as she / he moves to adulthood, the open petals symbolising the flexibility of the young child's personality.

About the Artist

Peter Irwin Cameron (1960-1997) is best remembered by those who knew him for his vision, intelligence, humour and artwork. These qualities and skills, together with his compassion, stood him in good stead for reaching his goal of improving conditions for Aboriginal people.

Despite a lengthy prison sentence, which would have been completed just hours after he died, Peter was near the end of a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from Curtin University of Technology. Before this, he was an Aboriginal health worker, taught at Marr Mooditj Aboriginal Health Worker College and completed a Certificate of Art and Design with Distinctions.

Peter had overcome many difficulties to be able to continue with his degree and his artwork whilst in prison. Persevering, he encouraged fellow prisoners to study including his best friend whose interest was in a Master of Fine Arts.

Peter had a vision of preventing the medical conditions that plague Aboriginal people. He honoured both Western and traditional Aboriginal medical paradigms, respecting their similarities and differences. Indeed, many of Peter's later artworks explored this theme, forming a complementary learning technique for his studies. He also recognised the importance of maternal, child and family health, and initiated collaboration with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.